Timely Insights into God's Word from Khandielese Reyes

“When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.  But he., being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.  Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their cloths at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.  And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”  (Acts 7:54-60) 

“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.  And when thy had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”  (Acts 4:29-31) 

Stephen was a man whose heart was truly after God.  He took no thought for his own life, but desired only to please the Father in all that he did and to surrender completely to His will for his life.   Even with the knowledge his life was about to end, he uttered not a word in defense of himself, but instead continued to boldly share the truth of what he knew concerning Jesus Christ our Lord.  For this truth   he was stoned and was labeled by many as “The Martyr” 

There were many like Stephen throughout the book of “Acts” as men of God filled with the Holy Spirit spoke fearlessly and boldly concerning the message of Jesus and the absolute necessity of true repentance of the heart from sin.  They boldly preached Jesus as the Messiah and the ONLY way to salvation and would allow nothing or anyone to silence their speech.  Even when threaten, beaten, imprisoned and persecuted horribly, they continued in boldness to share the message of Jesus Christ to ALL that would hear.  In fact, when Peter and John were released from prison after being threatened by the council of severe punishment if they continued to preach or teach in the name of Jesus, rather than pray asking the Lord to shield and protect them from bodily harm, they instead asked the Lord to grant them MORE boldness of speech that they may CONTINUE to speak His word.   They were willing to die for the truth, rather than live and be silenced by a lie. 

If some believers today were faced with the same oppositions, the same level of persecutions as were the apostles, would their prayer be as Peter’s?  Would they ask of the Lord: “Give me boldness in speech that I may continue to speak your word?”   Or would the threats of those who despise His name silence their speech.  Would their concern be more for the physical body and the fear of harm so much so, they could be threatened into silence?  If any of us were faced with the threat of death should we continued to share to the world the message of Jesus Christ our Lord, would we choose to die, rather than withhold the way of LIFE to a lost and dying world?  Would any of us be as Stephen was, willing to be labeled “The Martyr”?   

Countless of brothers and sisters all over the world suffered and continue to suffer the very same persecutions as the apostles.  From India, to Africa, China, Korea, Pakistan, Sudan and many more, these precious saints of God are being murdered, beaten, imprisoned, maimed, and threaten for the sake of the Gospel and yet, THEY are able to pray the prayer of Peter and John: “Father, grant me more boldness that I may speak your word”!  They are able to speak as Job had Spoke: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”!  They are able to rejoice even in the midst of horrific persecution.  They are threatened to keep silent, yet they continue to speak.  They have NO freedom to worship openly and yet they still raise their hands in praise!  In the midst of their sufferings their Hunger for the Lord, their thirst for righteousness increase all the more.  Never losing hope for their hope is in him.  Having “outwardly” nothing yet possessing ALL things, such are TRUE saints of the Lord!   They share His word with boldness and urgency, with the desire that all that are willing to come will come, and repent of their sins being cleansed by the blood of the Lamb of God.  They are willing to sacrifice their own lives, than to reject the truth of the Lord had written in their hearts.  These precious saints lack what we here in the United States have been so blessed to receive, FREEDOM OF SPEECH! But, despite their lack, they truly possess MORE! 

Sadly, here in the land of the free and home of the brave many of us remain silent  withholding the message of our Lord, or sharing it ONLY with a selective few.  Strange how our speech, our Faith, our worship will not cause us to be murdered, beaten, or threatened with all manner of violence as our brethren overseas and yet we still remain silent to those who truly need to hear as if the threat of death does apply to us if we speak.  We are not persecuted for speaking the word and yet we don’t use our freedom to speak more often, or with more boldness.   We speak well of our Lord, and of our love for him in the presence of fellow believers as it’s easier to share with one who identifies with our faith,  but when we attempt to share him with one who hasn’t yet heard, we sweeten our speech just enough so as not to offend or not to appear in the presence of an unbeliever as “fanatical”.  We don’t share the message of the Lord with enough conviction where those who hear are strongly desirous to repent of their sins, and live their lives righteously before the Lord.  Instead we water it down, sweeten it up, or worse…share nothing at all!   We are more concerned with what the world may “think” of us individually, than what the Lord would think of us!  More concerned with “pleasing” man, than pleasing the Lord.    

Beloved brothers and sisters, we must begin to use that which the Lord has so graciously blessed us with.  Many believers in various countries have never had the freedom of speech that we have been given, and yet are grateful at the slightest opportunity to share the word.  We must be as they ARE!  We’ve  NEVER known persecution until our freedom has been removed.

I love you all so very much. Have a blessed week in the Lord and remember: Whatever we do, do ALL for the GLORY of GOD, who ALONE is worthy of the GLORY and the PRAISE!

May the peace of the Lord be with you today and always…….

Khandielese
Daughter & Servant
   of the Lord God